How Denver’s Upcoming Water Restrictions Will Impact You

The consequences of Colorado’s unprecedented hot, dry winter will begin to show this week.

Denver Water is expected to declare a Stage 1 drought on Wednesday, March 25, which would immediately implement mandatory watering restrictions for customers. This would be the first time since 2013 that Denver Water has set use limits beyond the typical summer rules for outdoor watering.

The move comes after Colorado’s warmest winter in recorded state history, resulting in one of the worst snowpacks on record. Denver Water depends on mountain snowpack for 90 percent of its water supply; it would need to receive seven or eight additional feet of snow by the end of the season to reach normal spring snowpack levels. That goal slips further out of reach by the day.

“Since conditions aren’t improving, it’s imperative that all of our customers work to achieve these water savings so that we don’t need to increase restrictions later this summer,” says Jimmy Luthye, spokesperson for Denver Water.

Denver Water’s supply system depends primarily on snowmelt in the South Platte and Colorado River watersheds. As of March 23, snowpack within the company’s collection area is at 42 percent of normal for the South Platte River Basin and 55 percent for the Colorado River Basin, according to Denver Water.

Denver Water’s supply reservoirs are 80 percent full compared to the average of 85 percent for this time of year. Based on current forecasts, officials do not anticipate the reservoirs will fill this year.

The proposed water restrictions will impact all of the 1.5 million people served by Denver Water, extending beyond just outdoor watering and into restaurants, hotels, parks and car washes. The goal is to reduce total water demand by 20 percent from March 25 of this year, through April 30, 2027, according to Denver Water.

Other Colorado cities are taking similar measures. Thornton enacted a Stage 1 drought declaration earlier this month, becoming the first metro city to limit outdoor watering to twice per week. Erie is asking residents and businesses to stop using sprinklers until April 4, threatening to turn off water service to those who disobey. More water-use proposals are pending in Aurora and Westminster.

Here’s what Denver Water customers need to know about the upcoming water restrictions:

These restrictions come earlier and are stricter than the typical summer watering rules, which usually allow for watering on a third day per week when needed.

Hand-watering trees, shrubs and vegetables will be permitted any day, but not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Denver Water is also asking residents to delay turning on their sprinkler systems until mid-to-late May.

Similarly, hotels and lodging businesses will limit how often they wash sheets and towels, unless requested by guests. They will be prohibited from changing sheets more often than every four days for multi-night guests, except for requests or health and safety reasons.

Commercial car washes will have to adhere to water-efficient practices. Commercial operations with fleets of vehicles will only be allowed to wash the vehicles once per week, except for health or safety reasons.

For surface washing, individuals and commercial businesses will only be permitted to perform power washing on their assigned watering days. They must first clean the surface without water to prevent water waste.

However, the city’s watering schedule may be different from other customers’ to minimize public impacts on community assets, according to Denver Water.